4 October 2008
CAPS United's creaking ship is sailing in stormy waters.
The Green Machine crumbled like a deck of cards at Gwanzura Stadium yesterday -- a bitter pill to swallow for the supporters.
Jostein Mathuthu, the Caps United coach, left the venue under heavy police guard as die-hard fans bayed for his blood.
Forget about Mathuthu popping champagne with his troops when they won the ABC Sup8r Cup last weekend. Football fans have such short memories. The Green Machine supporters traded punches among themselves in the stands, as tempers flared. Police moved in swiftly to quell the explosive situation.
Caps fans have every right to complain about their team's waning fortunes, but the barbaric scenes witnessed at Gwanzura Stadium yesterday are deplorable. It was such a bad advertisement for domestic football.
This time it was not the referee's blundering; Caps United literally gave Underhill an early Christmas present.
Two schoolboy blunders were enough to hand Beavan Gwamure's charges maximum points. Unheralded Kudakwashe Musharu notched Underhill's first goal in the 60th minute before captain Nicholas Arufandika sealed the scoring in the 62nd minute.
Caps were reminded that great teams are not remembered by the beautiful soccer they play but goals.
The Harare team dominated play but failed to score. Roving right-back Oscar Machapa handed Underhill their first goal when he headed back to goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda who failed to read the move. Tendai Mukambi pounced and teed the ball to Musharu, who slotted home at close range.
The second goal was gift-wrapped from Charles Mwanjera, who again made a short pass to Sibanda. The keeper went for the ball under pressure and lost it to Arufandika. The Underhill skipper reacted quickly, hitting an out-footer as Sibanda made his tracks to cover his exposed goalposts.
The match was delayed for 25 minutes following the late arrival of the Beitbridge-based Underhill.
Meanwhile, Highlanders and Gunners played a goalless draw at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday. Lengthens beat Njube Sundowns 1-0 at Dzivarasekwa Stadium.
Caps United... (0 ) 0
Underhill... (0) 2
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